Case worker under police protection

Investigators said a couple in Central Iowa tried to pay an inmate to assault the case worker.

Officials said the scheme was concocted at the Fort Des Moines Community Corrections Center, which is a state facility where convicted felons are often held on work release, probation or federal supervision.

Authorities said one of the residents, William Paulsen, 41, didn't care for the case worker assigned to him.

"He had approached another inmate and asked to have his case worker assaulted. He offered a dollar amount to him and actually made specific requests for the type of injuries he wanted to see," Des Moines Police Department Sgt. Jason Halifax said. "He mentioned broken bones -- things that would take you out of commission for a while so you couldn't do your duties."

Authorities said they believe Paulsen's wife, Gabrielle Paulsen, gave the potential attacker some frightening information.

"She had approached him on her own ... at a convenience store, and when she approached him, she provided him with the vehicle description and the license plate of the targeted employee," Halifax said.